Carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for locking the carriage of a manual printer in an initial position after a printing stroke and a return stroke so that the operator cannot repeat the printing stroke without first releasing the carriage by operation of a release button. In this manner, the operator is reminded to reset a series of type wheels over which the platten roller of the released carriage passes during the following printing stroke. If repeated printing in unchanged position of the type wheels is desired, the release button is turned and mechanically held in a position in which the carriage is not locked in the initial position so that printing strokes can be repeated until the release button is returned to its normal position.

ilnite States atent 1191 Naltada et a1. 1 Jan. 1, 1974 [54] CARRIAGE LOCKING ARRANGEMENT 3,334,582 8/1967 Mahoney 101145 FOR A MANUAL PRINTER 3,405,634 [0/1968 Maul et a1... 1111/45 3,515,060 6/1970 Barbour 101/45 Inventors: Telslw Nakada, Kanagawa-ken; 3,486,446 12/1969 M8111 et a1... 101/45 x Noboru Oyama, Tokyo, both of 3,606,833 9/1971 Deutsch 10l/45 Japan 3,623,426 11/1971 Gruss 101/45 [73] Assignee: .ll'anome Sewing Machine (10., Ltd.,

Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: May 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 257,329

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Maul l0l/45 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Eugene H. Eickholt Att0rneyMichael S. Striker [5 7] ABSTRACT An arrangement for locking the carriage of a manual printer in an initial position after a printing stroke and a return stroke so that the operator cannot repeat the printing stroke without first releasing the-carriage by operation of a release button. in this manner, the operator is reminded to reset a series of type wheels over which the platten roller of the released carriage passes during the following printing stroke. 1f repeated printing in unchanged position of the type wheels is desired, the release button is turned and mechanically held in a position in which the carriage is not locked in the initial position so that printing strokes can be repeated until the release button is returned to its normal position.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures CARRIAGE LOCKING ARRANGEMENT FOR A MANUAL PRINTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to manually operated printing machines, particularly of the type in which a carriage supporting a roller platen is mounted on a printing bed for reciprocating in a printing stroke from an initial to an end position, and in a return stroke from the end position to the initial position. It is known to provide a series of type wheels which can be selectively set so that an aligned row of types, projecting out of the machine bed, produces an imprint on a sheet, such as a sale slip, placed upon it and pressed down by the roller platen of the carriage moving in a printing stroke.

In printing machines according to the prior art, the operator sometimes made the error not to set the series of type wheels to a new position indicating new information, such as a different monetary amount to be paid by a second customer. Consequently, the number and amount still set in the series of type wheels, produced an imprint on the sale slip of a second customer, representing a monetary amount owed by the first customer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to prevent such errors, and to assure that the operator is reminded to reset the series of type wheels before starting a new printing stroke.

Another object of the invention is to provide locking means for locking the carriage in the initial position, and to release the locking means by a manual operation, so that the operator is reminded to reset the type wheels after every printing stroke.

Another object of the invention is to provide a release button which is depressed for releasing the carriage for only one printing operation, and is turned to another position for permitting repeated printing operations if the same amount is to be printed several times.

With these objects in view, the present invention provides a manual printer provided with locking means for locking the carriage in an initial position, and manual means for releasing the locking means so that the operator is reminded to reset the type wheels, if required.

In this manner, the carriage'must be released by a manual operation before each printing stroke, but in a different positionof the manual means, repeated printing strokes are possible.

Due to the fact that the operator is reminded of the required setting operation before the printing of a new sales slip, erroneous operation is prevented in which types selected for the preceeding sales slip, make imprints on a new sales slip of another customer.

Since each imprint on the sales slip, also contains the number of the customers credit card, confusion and incorrect accounting may be caused.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of conventional manual printers according to the prior art. Since locking means are provided for automatically locking the carriage in the non-printing initial position after completing a printing stroke and a return stroke, a careless operator which forgets to reset the type wheels, is reminded to carry out the required resetting operation of the type-wheels, when he cannot manually move the locked carriage in a printing stroke, and is forced to release the carriage by operation of manual means, such as a release-button.

An embodiment of the invention comprises supporting means, such as a casing having a machine bed; a set of type elements, preferably type wheels, having a series of types, respectively, and .being selectively settable so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on the casing for movement along a path in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from the end position to the initial position; locking means mounted on the supporting means biassed to an operative position located in the path for locking the carriage in the initial position against movement in a printing stroke, and a release position located outside of the path; manual means, preferably including a release button, operable between a normal position and an actuated position; and linkage means, preferably including resilient means, operatively connecting the manual means with the locking means for moving the locking means to the release position when the manual means is moved to the actuated position. Upon operation of the manual means, such as depression of a release button, the locking means releases the carriage which can now be moved in a printing stroke and then in a return stroke.

The carriage engages the linkage means, preferably a cam portion thereof, after moving out of the initial position for returning the locking means back to the operative position. During the return stroke, a portion of the carriage engages the locking means, preferably a guide face thereof, so that the spring bias locking means resiliently yields and then returns to the operative position for locking the carriage in the initial position.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, bistable resilient arresting means are provided for arresting the linkage means in either of two positions corresponding to the released and operative positions of the locking means. Consequently, when the manual means is shortly moved to the actuated position and effects movement of the locking means to the released position, the locking means remains resiliently arrested in the released position by the linkage means and arresting means after return of the manual means to the normal position.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a printer according to the invention on a reduced scale;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating a carriage locking and releasing arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation, partially in section, illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 2 in the initial position of the carriage;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially in section, illustrating manual means including a release button, by which release of the locked carriageis effected in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded view illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the manual release button means; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating another modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, a machine casing 100 has a bed plate 1 forming a pair of guide slots 5 through which leg portions of a carriage 6 project. The legs have guide rollers, not shown, engaging the top and bottom surfaces of the bed plate 1 so that the carriage 6 thereby the roller platen 8 mounted thereon for rotation, can move from an initial position on the left side of the casing 100 to an end position located on the right side of the casing, as viewed in FIG. 1. On the top face of bed plate 1, a printing plate 3 with the name of the department store is secured, and positioning guides 2 are provided for properly placing the credit card belonging to a customer, and a sales slip, on the machine bed for being imprinted when a roller platen 8 rolls over the sales slip during movement of carriage 6 in a printing stroke.

The bed plate has at least one cutout through which the upper portion of a series 9 of type wheels 4 project so that an aligned row of types is in a printing position to be imprinted together with other infonnation represented by the printing plate 3 and the credit card, when the platen roller 8 passes over the aligned row of types during the printing stroke of the carriage 6.

A cover 14 covers an opening in the top plate of casing 100, and has a series of slots 15, and corresponding windows 16 in its front panel. A release button 42 is also mounted on cover 14, in a manner which will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, a rack bar 11 cooperates with a gear 99 secured to each type wheel 9, so that the type wheels 9 are selectively and individually displaced when the rack bars 11 are shifted. Each rack bar 11 has an end portion 13 projecting vertically out of a corresponding slot 15 and having finger engaging portions 13 by which the racks bars 11 can be selectively shifted to set a desired number in the top line of types of the type wheels 9. Strips with digital indications are secured to each rack bar end portion, so that the number set on each type wheel 9 can be read through the respective window 16.

FIG. 3 shows a pair of supporting side walls la and lb secured to the bed plate 1, and being connected by supports on which the rack bars 11 are slidably guided. One of the guide rollers 7, which engages the bottom surface of the bed plate 1, is shown in FIG. 7 in a position assumed by roller '7 when the carriage 6 is in the initial position shown in FIG. 1. A hook shaped locking member 31 is mounted on a pivot 33 supported by wall 1d secured to the bed plate 1. In the operative position shown in solid lines of FIG. 3, the hook shaped locking member 31 engages the roller 7 of the carriage 6 in such a manner that the carriage 6 cannot be moved in a printing stroke in direction of the arrow E. When the locking member 31 is placed in the released position shown in chain lines, the roller 7 can move with carriage 6 in a printing stroke in the direction E, so that platen roller 8 passes over the aligned types of the top row of the series of type wheels 9.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, linkage means are provided which include a shiftable lever 24 mounted on a pivot 25 for angular movement on supporting wall 1d and being engaged by a torsion spring 26 which biases shifting lever 24 to turn in the direction of the arrow A so that locking member 31 is biassed to move to the operative position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3 by pin 32 thereon projecting into a slot 27 of shifting lever 24.

At the other end of shifting lever 24, a curved cam portion 29 is provided which cooperates with the roller 7 when the carriage 6 has been moved in a printing stroke from the position D to the position F on the way to the end position F. Cam portion 29 is part of a lateral projection 30 of shifting lever 24, as best seen in FIG. 2.

In the operative position of locking member 31 shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, cam 29 is not engaged by roller 7. However, when locking member 31 and shifting lever 24 are shifted to the respective positions shown in chain lines, cam portion 29 in the chain line position is located in the path of movement of roller 7 in the position S, so that cam 29 is pushed down, and shifting lever 24 is angularly displaced to the position shown in solid lines for returning locking member 31 to the operative position located in the path of movement of roller 7. If roller 7 is moved with the carriage 6 in the return stroke in the direction opposite to the arrow E, roller 7 engages the slanted guide face 35 of locking member 31 and turns the same to the release position shown in chain lines, with shifting lever 24 so that spring 26 is stressed. When the carriage 6 has been moved further in the return stroke to the initial position D, as shown in solid lines for roller 7, the locking member 31, biassed by spring 26 and shifting lever 24 is turned to the position illustrated in solid lines locking the carriage 6 by engaging roller 7 thereon, as shown in FIG. 3.

It will be seen that during the printing and return strokes of carriage 6, the control roller 7 moves along a path in which the slanted face 35 of the locking member 31 in the operative position, and the cam portion 29 of the shifting lever 24 in the released position of locking member 31 are located.

Shifting lever 24 has a projecting abutment 28, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 which cooperates with a coupling pin 20 projecting from a U-shaped member 17 whose legs are mounted on a shaft 18 in the supporting means of the machine so that pin 20, and also a pin 21 on the other side of U-shaped member 17, can move up and down. When U-shaped member 17 is turned in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, pin 20 engages abutment 28 and turns shifting lever 24 opposite to the direction of the arrow A so that locking member 31 is turned to the releasing position shown in chain lines in FIG. 3. Such angular displacement in counterclockwise direction is brought about by engagement of the coupling pin 21 with an abutment 39 on a control lever 36 which is mounted for angular movement on a pivot pin 37 and is biassed in the counterclockwise direction of arrow B by a torsion spring 38. At the end of control lever 36 remote from the abutment 39, a resilient arm 41 in the form of a leaf spring is provided, and has an abutment portion 40 at the free end thereof cooperating with the stem 43 of a release button 42, as best seen in FIG. 4. By depression of release button 42, control lever 36 is turned in the clockwise direction of the arrow B, abutment 39 engages coupling pin 21, U-shaped member 17 is turned about shaft 18 in counterclockwise direction, coupling pin engages abutment 28, shifting lever 24 is turned in counterclockwise direction, and locking member 31 is turned to the releasing position shown in chain lines in FIG. 3.

A bistable resilient arresting means is provided for arresting U-shaped member 17, and thereby the entire above-described linkage, in either of two positions. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, a U-shaped leaf spring 23 has opposite outward projecting portions respectively fitting into notches provided on one leg of the U- shaped frame 17 and on a support body 22 which is secured to the casing 100.

As best seen in FIG. 4, in the solid line position of member 17 and the notch in support body 22 is aligned along an axis 0, 0 with pin 18. In the displaced position of member 17 shown in chain lines, the loop portion of spring 23 has been turned to another position in which member 17 is again arrested.

Referring now mainly to FIGS. 2 and 4, portions of panel 14 form a cylindrical opening 14a in which an annular cam 49 is secured. Cam 49 has an annular cam track with a high portion 50a and a low portion 50, the cam track gradually rising from the low portion to the high portion with which the low portion is connected by a straight axial shoulder. A lateral projection 46 on the tubular portion of the finger piece 45a of release button 42, slides along the cam track 50, a when release button 42 is turned so that the release button 42 is moved downward to the actuating position shown in chain lines in FIG. 4 when being turned. A spring 48 in the interior of the tubular portion 45 urges release button 42 upward and away from the guide portion 14' through which stem 43 passes. Spring 48 biases release button 42 to a normal position in the direction of the arrow C, but when release button 42 is manually depressed against the action of spring 48 to the position 14a, stem 43, acting on abutment 45 of lever arm 41, turns control lever 36 from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4 to the position shown in chain lines so that pin 21 of U-shaped member 17 is displaced and member 17 shifted to the position shown in chain lines in which it is again resiliently arrested by the bistable arresting means 23. 4

Since member 17 is arrested in this position, releas button 42 can be released and is returned in axial direction to its normal position by spring 48.

If, however, release button42 is not depressed to the actuating position, but is turned with projection 46 sliding along the cam track 50, 50a, the release button 42 assumes an angularly displaced actuating position, and remains in this position since it is held by the cam track portion 50a against the action of spring 48. This turned position of release button 42 is used for obtaining repeated printing operation without locking of the carriage in the initial position so that the carriage can be returned several times to its initial position for a new printing stroke making another copy of the same information represented by the types of the type wheels 9.

The apparatus is operated as follows:

After the finger pieces 13 of rack bars 11 have been operated to set the type wheels 9 to a desired position representing a monetary value by the digits aligned in the top row of types, a credit card, not shown, is placed on supporting plate 3a, and covered by a sales slip form. Since carriage 6 is in the initial position, and roller 7 in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, locking member 31 is in the operative position, locking roller 7 against movement in the direction of the arrow E together with the carriage 6 so that the latter cannot carry out a printing stroke.

If the operator tries to move the carriage 6 in a printing stroke, and cannot succeed because the carriage is locked, he is remainded to check whether he has properly set the type wheels 9 to the position associated with the credit card placed in the machine. Assuming that the selective setting of the type wheels 9 has been properly carried out, the operator depresses the release button 42 down in axial direction, assuming that only one print has to be made. The movement of the release button 42 of the manual means 45, 45a, 48, 43 shifts control lever 36 and member 17 angularly to the positions shown in chain lines in which the member 17 is again arrested by the bistable arresting means 23 in the chain line position.

When member 17 is turned to the chain line position, by engagement of abutment 39 with coupling pin 21, coupling pin 20 is in a position engaging abutment 28 and shifting the shifting lever 24 opposite to the direction of the arrow A to a position in which the locking member 31 is shifted to the released position shown in chain lines in FIG. 3 due to the connection provided by pin 32 and slot 27.

In the released position of locking member 31, roller 7 is free to move to the right in the direction of the arrow E, and consequently carriage 6 is released for movement in this direction in a printing stroke during which roller platen 8 rolls over the aligned row of selected types of type wheels 4 to make an imprint on the sales slip.

Before carriage 6 has arrived in its end position F shown in FIG. 3, it passes through a position F in which roller 7 cooperates with a cam 29 to turn shifting lever 24 in the direction of the arrow A so that locking member 31 is again turned to the operative position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, but at this time, roller 7 is in engagement with cam 29, and consequently not locked by locking member 31 in the operative position.

After the carriage 6 has reached its end position F, it is moved in a return stroke opposite to the direction of the arrow E until roller 7 engages the slanted guide face 35 of locking member 31 in the operative position shown in solid lines so that locking lever 31 is displaced to the chain line position, together with shifting lever 24 and against the action of spring 26. Immediately thereafter, roller 7 arrives with carriage 6 in the initial position D, permitting the locking member 31 to assume again its operative position due to the action of spring 26 transmitted by shifting lever'24 and pin 32 to locking member 31. Since roller 7 is now within the hook-shaped locking member 31, carriage 6 is now locked against movement out of the initial position, and another actuation of release button 42 is required for releasing locking means 31 so that the operator is reminded to reset the type wheels 4 for the next following printing operation.

The shifting movements of locking member 31 to gether with shifting lever 24 are transmitted through coupling pins 20 and 21 on the U-shaped member 17 to the bistable resilient arresting means 23, so that locking member 31 is resiliently arrested in the chain line and solid line positions through the intermediary of member 17..

Referring again to FIG. 4, when the manual means 42, 45, 43 are depressed to the position shown in chain lines, lever 36 and member 17 are angularly displaced and arrested in the chain line position by the shifted bistable arresting means 23 so that release button 42 can be released for return to its normal position due to the action of spring 48.

In order to perform several printing operations successively, it is only necessary to turn the manual means 42, 45, 43, instead of depressing release button 42. When release button 42 is turned, its projection 46 slides along the annular cam 50, 50a so that stem 43 is moved downward as if release button 42 would have been pressed straight down. However, the high cam portion 50a retains release button 42 against the action of spring 40 so that stem 42 remains in the lower position shown in chain lines in FIG. 4, holding control lever 36 in a corresponding position, while member 17 is arrested by the bistable resilient arresting means 23 in the chain line position.

Accordingly, the locking member 31 is maintained in the released position shown in chain lines, and carriage 6 with roller 7 are free to perform repeated and successive printing and return strokes. When roller 7 engages cam portion 29 of shifting lever 24, shifting lever 24 and locking member 31 will 'be displaced to the operative position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3. Since control lever 36, particularly arm 41 thereof, is made of a resilient material, it will absorb any pressure exerted by coupling pin 12 on abutment 39 due to the pressure of abutment 28 of shifting lever 24 on coupling pin 20. When the manual means 42, 43 is held by cam 49, 50a in the turned actuating position, the double armed control lever 36 is turned in clockwise direction about pivot pin 37 from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in chain lines, so that locking member 31 is permanently maintained in the released position. When the printing stroke is started, and roller 7 moves from the initial carriage position D to the position F, all parts of the linkage are allowed to shift back to the positions illustrated in solid lines against the action of the biassed control lever 36 because the am 41 of control lever 36 is a leaf spring and resiliently yields.

But when roller 7 approaches the initial position D, all parts of the linkage are returned to a position in which locking member 31 releases roller 7 of carriage 6.

When release button 42 is turned to a position in which projection 46 cooperates with a low cam portion 50 of annular cam 49, spring 48 returns release button 42 to its normal position in direction of the arrow C, and control lever 36 is released by stem 43, spring 38 turns control lever 36 in the direction of the arrow B, and spring 26 and shifting lever 24 turn locking member 31 to the operative position for locking carriage 6 in the initial position D.

FIG. illustrated a modified embodiment of the invention in which the linkage means between the manual means 42, 45, 43 and the locking means 31 with spring 32', do not include control lever 36 and U- shaped member 17. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the thin resilient arm 41' with the abutment 40, forms part of the shiftable lever 24, projecting transversely from lever 24. The bistable resilient arresting means 23 is provided between the fixed support 22 and the end of shifting lever 24, on whichthe abutment 39 is provided.

Furthermore, the slot 27 is replaced by a cutout'27 coooperating with the pin 32 on locking member 31..

When release button 42 is depressed, or turned, as explained above, and arrives in the lower actuating position, stem 43, acting on abutment 40 and arm 42, turns shifting lever 24 in counterclockwise direction so that locking member 31 is turned to the released position due to the pressure of the edge of cutout 27' on pin 32. The movement of locking member 31 to the released position takes place against the action of spring 32 so that the locking member 31 is biassed to return to its operative position. When shifting lever 24 is turned in this manner, it is arrested in the new position by the bistable resilient means 23.

When carriage 6 is moved from the position D in a printing stroke to the intermediate position F, roller 7 engages cam portion 29 of shifting lever 24, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, so that shifting lever 24 is turned in clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, and the edge of cutout 27 moves up, pin 32, which engages this edge, follows due to the action of spring 32' so that locking member 31 is turned to the operative position from which it will be displaced by engagement of roller 7 with slanted guide face 35 during the return stroke of the carriage 6.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification in which the spring 48 abuts the lower end of the stem 43' for returning release button 42 to its normal position. Spring 48 may abut on abutment 44 of the resilient arm 41 or 41'.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 in which the bistable arresting means 22' and 23", arrests control lever 36 in two angular positions, instead of the U-shaped member 17 whose coupling pin 21 cooperates with abutment 39 as described with reference to FIG. 2. In all embodiments, the bistable resilient arresting means maintains the linkage means between the manual means 42, 43 and the locking means 31 resiliently arrested in one of two positions, irrespectively of the return of the release button 42 to the normal position.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also-find a useful application in other types of carriage locking arrangement for manual printing machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer preventing a printing stroke before a release button has been actuated, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer comprising supporting means; a set of manual setting means; a set of type elements having series of types, re-

spectively, and being mounted on said supporting means for selective setting by said setting means, respectively, so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on said supporting means for movement in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from said end position to said initial position, said carriage including a platen cooperating with said aligned row of types during said printing stroke, said carriage having a control part moving along a path during movement of said carriage; locking means mounted on said supporting means biased to an operative position for locking said control part and said carriage in said initial position against movement in said printing stroke, and a release position located outside of said path, said locking means including a guide face located in said operative position in said path for being engaged during said return stroke by said control part; a manual means operable between a normal position and an actuated position; and linkage means operatively connecting said a manual means with said locking means for moving said locking means to said released position when said manual means is moved to said actuated position so that said locking means releases said control part and said carriage whereby the carriage can be moved in said printing stroke, said linkage means including a portion located in said path and engaged by said control part during said printing stroke for operating said linkage means to move said locking means back to said operative position in which said guide face is located in said path of said control part so that said control part engages said guide face of said locking means during the return stroke whereby said locking means is momentarily moved to said released position, and then resiliently returns to said operative position locking said control part and carriage.

2. Carriage locking arrangement as claimed in claim ll comprising a bistable resilient arresting means for arresting said linkage means in two positions corresponding to said released and operative positions of said locking means, respectively, so that when said manual means is moved to said actuated position and effects movement of said locking means to said released position, said locking means remains resiliently arrested in said released position by said linkage means and arresting means after return of said manual means to said normal position until said carriage engages said linkage means.

3. Carriage locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said manual means including a manual member movable in one direction between said normal and actuating positions, and being movable in said actuating position in a second direction, and biassing means for biassing said manual member to said normal position; and wherein said supporting means include means for holding said manual member in said actuating position when moved in said second direction so that said locking means remains in said released position during repeated printing and return strokes of said carriage.

4. Carriage locking arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said manual member includes a release button and a stem secured to said release button; wherein said linkage means include an elongated resilient arm having a free end with an abutment; and wherein said stem engages said abutment in said actuating position.

5. Carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer, comprising supporting means; a set of type elements having series of types, respectively, and being mounted on said supporting means for selective setting so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on said supporting means for movement along a path in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from said end position to said initial position, said carriage including a platen cooperating with said aligned row of types during said printing stroke, said carriage including a roller moving along said path; locking means mounted on said supporting means biased to an operative position located in said path for locking said carriage in said initial position against movement in said printing stroke, and a released position located outside of said path; manual means operable between a normal position, and an actuated position; linkage means operatively connecting said manual means with said locking means for moving said locking means to said released position when said manual means is moved to said actuated position so that said locking means releases said carriage whereby said carriage can be moved in said printing stroke, said linkage means including a cam portion engaged by said roller during said printing stroke for moving said locking means to said operative position, said locking means including a guide face slanted to said path and engaged by said roller during said return stroke so that said locking-means resiliently yields and is momentarily moved to said released position, and then resiliently returns to said operative position for locking said roller with said carriage in said initial position of said carriage.

6. Carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer, comprising supporting means; a set of type elements having series of types, respectively, and being mounted on said supporting means for selective setting so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on said supporting means for movement along a path in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from said end position to said initial position, said carriage including a platen cooperating with said aligned row of types during said printing stroke; locking means mounted on said supporting means biased to an operative position located in said path for locking said carriage in said initial position against movement in said printing stroke, and a released position located outside of said path; manual means operable between a normal position, and an actuated position; linkage means operatively connecting said manual means with said locking means for moving said locking means to said released position when said manual means is moved to said actuated position so that said locking means releases said carriage whereby said carriage can be moved in said printing stroke, said linkage means including a shifting lever connected with 7 said locking means at one end and having a cam portion at the other end engaged by said carriage during said printing stroke for displacing said shifting lever so that said locking means is moved to said operative position, and pivotally mounted control means connecting said shifting lever with said manual means when said manual means is moved to said actuated position; and comprising a bistable resilient arresting means for arresting said linkage means in two positions corresponding to said released and operative position of said locking means, respectively, so that when said manual means is moved to said actuated position and effects movement of said locking means in said released position, said locking means remains resiliently arrested in said released position by said linkage means and arresting means after return of said manual means to said normal position, until said carriage engages said linkage means, said carriage engaging said linkage means after moving out of said initial position for returning said locking means back to said operative position, said locking means yielding resiliently when engaged in said operative position by said carriage during said return stroke whereupon said carriage is locked in said initial position by said locking means returning to said operative position.

7. Carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer, comprising supporting means; a set of type elements having series of types, respectively, and being mounted on said supporting means for selective setting so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on said supporting means for movement along a path in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from said end position to said initial position, said carriage including a roller and a platen cooperating with said aligned row of types during said printing stroke; locking means mounted on said supporting means biased to an operative position located in said path for locking said carriage in said initial position against movement in said printing stroke, and a released position located outside of said path, said locking means including a hookedshaped locking member having a cam face slanted to said path and engaged by said roller during said return stroke so that said locking member is momentarily moved to said released position and then resiliently returns to said operative position for locking said roller with said carriage in said initial position; manual means operable between a normal position, and an actuated position; linkage means operatively connecting said manual means with said locking means for moving said locking means to said released position when said manual means is moved to said actuated position so that said locking means releases said carriage whereby said carriage can be moved in said printing stroke, said linkage means including a cam portion'engaged by said roller during said printing stroke, said roller engaging said cam portion after moving out of said initial position for returning said locking means back to said operative position, said hookshaped locking member yielding resiliently when engaged in said operative position by said roller of said carriage during said return stroke whereupon said roller and carriage are locked in said initial position by said locking means returning to said operative position; and a bistable resilient arresting means for arresting said linkage means in two positions corresponding to said released and operative positions of said locking means, respectively, so that when said manual means is moved to said actuated position and effects movement of said locking means to said released position, said locking means remains resiliently arrested in said released position by said linkage means and said arresting means after return of said manual means to said normal position until said carriage engages said linkage means.

8. Carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer, comprising supporting means; a set of type elements having series types, respectively, and being mounted on said supporting means for selective setting so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on said supporting means for movement along a path in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from said end position to said initial position, said carriage including a platen cooperating with said aligned row of types during said printing stroke; locking means mounted on said supporting means biased to an operative position located in said path for locking said carriage in said initial position against movement in said printing stroke, and a released position located outside of said path; manual means operable between a normal position, and an actuated position; linkage means operatively connecting said manual means with said locking means for moving said locking means to said released position when said manual means is moved to said actuated position so that said locking means releases said carriage whereby said carriage can be moved in said printing stroke, said carriage engaging said linkage means after moving out of said initial position for returning said locking means back to said operative position, said locking means yielding resiliently when engaged in said operative position by said carriage during said return stroke whereupon said carriage is locked in said initial position by said locking means returning to said operative position; said manual means including a key button having a lateral projection and being mounted in said supporting means for downward movement in a first direction between said normal and actuating positions, and being also mounted for turning movement in a second direction in said actuating position; said supporting means including a fixed annular cam having a high portion and a low portion for guiding said lateral projection during turning movement of said key button so that said lateral portion moves from said low cam portion to said high cam portion, said supporting means including means for holding said key button in said actuating position when turned whereby said key button is retained in said actuating position and said locking means is held in said released position during repeated printing and return strokes of said carriage.

9. Carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer, comprising supporting means; a set of type elements having series of types, respectively, and being mounted on said supporting means for selective setting so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on said supporting means for movement along a path in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from said end position to said initial position, said carriage including a control part moving along said path, and a platen cooperating with said aligned row of types during said printing stroke; locking means mounted on said supporting means biased to an operative position located in said path for locking said carriage in said initial position against movement in said printing stroke, and a released position located outside of said path, said locking means including a locking member having a slanted guide face and being pivotally mounted on said supporting means, and a spring biasing said locking memher to said operative position; manual means operable between a normal position, and an actuated position; linkage means operatively connecting said manual means with said locking means for moving said locking member by means of said shifting lever to said operative position, said locking member being resiliently displaced out of said operative position by said control part engaging said guide face during the return stroke of said carriage, and is returned by said spring to said operative position when said carriage and control part are in said initial position so that said carriage is locked. 

1. Carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer comprising supporting means; a set of manual setting means; a set of type elements having series of types, respectively, and being mounted on said supporting means for selective setting by said setting means, respectively, so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on said supporting means for movement in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from said end position to said initial position, said carriage including a platen cooperating with said aligned row of types during said printing stroke, said carriage having a control part moving along a path during movement of said carriage; locking means mounted on said supporting means biased to an operative position for locking said control part and said carriage in said initial position against movement in said printing stroke, and a release position located outside of said path, said locking means including a guide face located in said operative position in said path for being engaged during said return stroke by said control part; a manual means operable between a normal position and an actuated position; and linkage means operatively connecting said a manual means with said locking means for moving said locking means to said released position when said manual means is moved to said actuated position so that said locking means releases said control part and said carriage whereby the carriage can be moved in said printing stroke, said linkage means including a portion located in said path and engaged by said control part during said printing stroke for operating said linkage means to move said locking means back to said operative position in which said guide face is located in said path of said control part so that said control part engages said guide face of said locking means during the return stroke whereby said locking means is momentarily moved to said released position, and then resiliently returns to said operative position locking said control part and carriage.
 2. Carriage locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising a bistable resilient arresting means for arresting said linkage means in two positions corresponding to said released and operative positions of said locking means, respectively, so that when said manual means is moved to said actuated position and effects movement of said locking means to said released position, said locking means remains resiliently arrested in said released position by said linkage means and arresting means after return of said manual means to said normal position unTil said carriage engages said linkage means.
 3. Carriage locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said manual means including a manual member movable in one direction between said normal and actuating positions, and being movable in said actuating position in a second direction, and biassing means for biassing said manual member to said normal position; and wherein said supporting means include means for holding said manual member in said actuating position when moved in said second direction so that said locking means remains in said released position during repeated printing and return strokes of said carriage.
 4. Carriage locking arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said manual member includes a release button and a stem secured to said release button; wherein said linkage means include an elongated resilient arm having a free end with an abutment; and wherein said stem engages said abutment in said actuating position.
 5. Carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer, comprising supporting means; a set of type elements having series of types, respectively, and being mounted on said supporting means for selective setting so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on said supporting means for movement along a path in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from said end position to said initial position, said carriage including a platen cooperating with said aligned row of types during said printing stroke, said carriage including a roller moving along said path; locking means mounted on said supporting means biased to an operative position located in said path for locking said carriage in said initial position against movement in said printing stroke, and a released position located outside of said path; manual means operable between a normal position, and an actuated position; linkage means operatively connecting said manual means with said locking means for moving said locking means to said released position when said manual means is moved to said actuated position so that said locking means releases said carriage whereby said carriage can be moved in said printing stroke, said linkage means including a cam portion engaged by said roller during said printing stroke for moving said locking means to said operative position, said locking means including a guide face slanted to said path and engaged by said roller during said return stroke so that said locking means resiliently yields and is momentarily moved to said released position, and then resiliently returns to said operative position for locking said roller with said carriage in said initial position of said carriage.
 6. Carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer, comprising supporting means; a set of type elements having series of types, respectively, and being mounted on said supporting means for selective setting so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on said supporting means for movement along a path in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from said end position to said initial position, said carriage including a platen cooperating with said aligned row of types during said printing stroke; locking means mounted on said supporting means biased to an operative position located in said path for locking said carriage in said initial position against movement in said printing stroke, and a released position located outside of said path; manual means operable between a normal position, and an actuated position; linkage means operatively connecting said manual means with said locking means for moving said locking means to said released position when said manual means is moved to said actuated position so that said locking means releases said carriage whereby said carriage can be moved in said printing stroke, said linkage means including A shifting lever connected with said locking means at one end and having a cam portion at the other end engaged by said carriage during said printing stroke for displacing said shifting lever so that said locking means is moved to said operative position, and pivotally mounted control means connecting said shifting lever with said manual means when said manual means is moved to said actuated position; and comprising a bistable resilient arresting means for arresting said linkage means in two positions corresponding to said released and operative position of said locking means, respectively, so that when said manual means is moved to said actuated position and effects movement of said locking means in said released position, said locking means remains resiliently arrested in said released position by said linkage means and arresting means after return of said manual means to said normal position, until said carriage engages said linkage means, said carriage engaging said linkage means after moving out of said initial position for returning said locking means back to said operative position, said locking means yielding resiliently when engaged in said operative position by said carriage during said return stroke whereupon said carriage is locked in said initial position by said locking means returning to said operative position.
 7. Carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer, comprising supporting means; a set of type elements having series of types, respectively, and being mounted on said supporting means for selective setting so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on said supporting means for movement along a path in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from said end position to said initial position, said carriage including a roller and a platen cooperating with said aligned row of types during said printing stroke; locking means mounted on said supporting means biased to an operative position located in said path for locking said carriage in said initial position against movement in said printing stroke, and a released position located outside of said path, said locking means including a hooked-shaped locking member having a cam face slanted to said path and engaged by said roller during said return stroke so that said locking member is momentarily moved to said released position and then resiliently returns to said operative position for locking said roller with said carriage in said initial position; manual means operable between a normal position, and an actuated position; linkage means operatively connecting said manual means with said locking means for moving said locking means to said released position when said manual means is moved to said actuated position so that said locking means releases said carriage whereby said carriage can be moved in said printing stroke, said linkage means including a cam portion engaged by said roller during said printing stroke, said roller engaging said cam portion after moving out of said initial position for returning said locking means back to said operative position, said hook-shaped locking member yielding resiliently when engaged in said operative position by said roller of said carriage during said return stroke whereupon said roller and carriage are locked in said initial position by said locking means returning to said operative position; and a bistable resilient arresting means for arresting said linkage means in two positions corresponding to said released and operative positions of said locking means, respectively, so that when said manual means is moved to said actuated position and effects movement of said locking means to said released position, said locking means remains resiliently arrested in said released position by said linkage means and said arresting means after return of said manual means to said normal position until said carriage engages said linkage means.
 8. Carriage locking Arrangement for a manual printer, comprising supporting means; a set of type elements having series types, respectively, and being mounted on said supporting means for selective setting so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on said supporting means for movement along a path in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from said end position to said initial position, said carriage including a platen cooperating with said aligned row of types during said printing stroke; locking means mounted on said supporting means biased to an operative position located in said path for locking said carriage in said initial position against movement in said printing stroke, and a released position located outside of said path; manual means operable between a normal position, and an actuated position; linkage means operatively connecting said manual means with said locking means for moving said locking means to said released position when said manual means is moved to said actuated position so that said locking means releases said carriage whereby said carriage can be moved in said printing stroke, said carriage engaging said linkage means after moving out of said initial position for returning said locking means back to said operative position, said locking means yielding resiliently when engaged in said operative position by said carriage during said return stroke whereupon said carriage is locked in said initial position by said locking means returning to said operative position; said manual means including a key button having a lateral projection and being mounted in said supporting means for downward movement in a first direction between said normal and actuating positions, and being also mounted for turning movement in a second direction in said actuating position; said supporting means including a fixed annular cam having a high portion and a low portion for guiding said lateral projection during turning movement of said key button so that said lateral portion moves from said low cam portion to said high cam portion, said supporting means including means for holding said key button in said actuating position when turned whereby said key button is retained in said actuating position and said locking means is held in said released position during repeated printing and return strokes of said carriage.
 9. Carriage locking arrangement for a manual printer, comprising supporting means; a set of type elements having series of types, respectively, and being mounted on said supporting means for selective setting so that an aligned row of set types represents information to be printed; a manually operated carriage mounted on said supporting means for movement along a path in a printing stroke from an initial position to an end position, and in a return stroke from said end position to said initial position, said carriage including a control part moving along said path, and a platen cooperating with said aligned row of types during said printing stroke; locking means mounted on said supporting means biased to an operative position located in said path for locking said carriage in said initial position against movement in said printing stroke, and a released position located outside of said path, said locking means including a locking member having a slanted guide face and being pivotally mounted on said supporting means, and a spring biasing said locking member to said operative position; manual means operable between a normal position, and an actuated position; linkage means operatively connecting said manual means with said locking means for moving said locking means to said released position when said manual means is moved to said actuated position so that said locking means releases said carriage whereby said carriage can be moved in said printing stroke, said linkage means including a shifting lever pivotally mounted on said supporting means and having one end engaging saiD locking member and another end having a cam portion, said control part engaging said cam portion during said printing stroke for moving said locking member by means of said shifting lever to said operative position, said locking member being resiliently displaced out of said operative position by said control part engaging said guide face during the return stroke of said carriage, and is returned by said spring to said operative position when said carriage and control part are in said initial position so that said carriage is locked. 